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Harry jumped to his feet when Draco stepped out of a swirl of green flames in the fireplace. Harry rushed forward and pounced on the blond with a firm hug. "Merlin, it's good to see you," Harry mumbled, relief flooding through him.

Draco returned the embrace tightly, nodding to Ginny when he spotted her standing behind Harry. After a moment he pulled back with a frown. "Where is she?" he asked anxiously.

"Upstairs," Harry responded, his voice rough with fatigue and sorrow. "All day she's gone back and forth between sobbing and complete silence. She's heartbroken."

Draco motioned to the stairs and he followed Harry up. They could hear voices coming from Hermione's room. When they got to the doorway, they could see Hermione laying down with her head on Pansy's lap. Blaise was seated on the bed next to her, slowly and carefully dragging a brush through Hermione's long curls. Ron was sitting in a chair by the bed, his arm outstretched to hold Hermione's hand. It was an odd scene, but Draco felt a rush of gratitude for his friends offering such tender care to Hermione.

Draco crossed the room without a word. He lifted one knee to kneel on the bed, smiling slightly when Hermione turned her head to look at him. Her eyes widened in shock just before she burst into tears again. Draco's breath caught in his throat as he hastily pulled her into his arms, his back aching slightly with his half crouched position. He held her close, one hand cradling the back of her head while the other pressed against the middle of her back. She relaxed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

By unspoken agreement, Pansy and Blaise vacated the bed and stepped away. As expected, Draco moved over Hermione to lay down next to her. They were on their sides facing each other, Draco gently stroking her cheek with one finger.

"What are you doing here?" Hermione asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Harry told me what happened," Draco told her quietly. "I just had to come and be with you. I only have a few more complex potions to complete and I'll return to France for that. Then I'll be back here for good."

"I thought you liked living in France," she said, her fingers carefully stroking the soft fabric of his robes.

"France is great," Draco agreed lightly. "But it's not home and I've wanted to return here so desperately. I've missed you," he added, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close for a hug. His eyes burned and his heart ached when he felt her tremble, her grief taking hold of her again. He looked over to see his friends still standing near the doorway.

"Good to see you mate," Ron said with a slight smile, while Blaise nodded his agreement. "Anything we can do?"

"We'll probably just sleep," Draco replied. "It's late and you all look exhausted. I'll take care of her and you get some rest."

Harry sighed with relief as he led Ginny to bed. The brief conversation with Draco was the most Hermione had spoken all day. Harry had noticed the affection on Draco's face upon seeing Hermione. It seemed quite likely that Draco was still very much in love with Hermione. This idea made Harry's insides squirm uncomfortably as he remembered Callum. The situation was bound to become awkward very quickly.

Hermione woke the next morning to shouting. She sat up quickly, wincing at the throbbing in her head.

Callum was standing in the doorway with an expression of outrage. "What the bloody hell is going on here?" he demanded.

Draco was up and out of bed in a hurry. "Who the hell are you?" he snapped.

Callum opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off by an angry snarl from Ginny. "What in Merlin's name is going on?" she growled, storming into the bedroom and glaring at Callum. "What possessed you too come over here early in the morning and start shouting like a lunatic?"

Callum threw his hands up in disbelief. "I came over to find the woman that I've been dating in bed with some tosser... But I get yelled at?" he asked incredulously.

Ginny sighed. "That tosser is Draco Malfoy," Ginny said, nearly wincing at Callum's expression of recognition and then dismay. Draco's face was impassive, but she had seen the flash of hurt in his eyes when Callum mentioned dating Hermione.

Hermione felt terribly guilty. When Callum had come by the day before, she'd kept her distance and didn't speak at all. Now he'd come by to find her cuddling with Draco. She didn't need to feel guilty in addition to the crushing pain of losing her parents. Her breath caught on a sob that she couldn't suppress.

Ginny pushed the two men away and hurried to Hermione's side. "You two go downstairs," Ginny commanded, cradling Hermione's head to her chest. "We'll be down shortly."

Once they were alone, Hermione lifted her head to look at Ginny. "That was dreadfully awkward," Hermione murmured.

"Two ridiculously attractive men in your bedroom at once..." Ginny commented with a smirk. "At least you'll have something nice to look at today." She was delighted when Hermione offered a small watery smile.

Draco had changed a bit while he'd been gone. His features were less sharp and his slim frame had filled out with plenty of muscle. Hermione had noted how firm his chest was as she'd cuddled against him. His hair was kept relatively short and he was no longer slicking it back. At that moment, it looked soft and a quite ruffled, as if he'd been running his fingers through it in agitation.

Callum was leaning against the fireplace and glaring at Draco. His dark hair was still perfectly in place and his gaze was sharp as he took in Draco's appearance with growing dislike.

Pansy made an impatient noise when she walked in to see the two men having an aggressive starting contest. "That's enough," she said sternly. She met Draco's face with a frown. "You left. You made no commitment to her and then you left for two years. You've no right to be angry." She ignored his scowl and turned to Callum. "Your relationship with Hermione is casual, but it'll be non-existent if you're going to be controlling or possessive. You've only been on a few dates. Calm down if you'd like to keep your bullocks where they are." Callum shifted uncomfortably.

When Hernione came down the stairs, both men were on their best behavior. Callum had breakfast with them before taking his leave. He even shook Draco's hand before he stepped through the floo. Hermione wasn't sure what to think of it. She was glad that they were trying to get along, but she was afraid that their interactions were merely a passive-aggressive sort of competition. She certainly wouldn't put it past Draco.

Draco stayed by Hermione's side over the next few days. He held her close during the funeral and wept along with her. Callum had been in attendance, but he'd wisely not commented on their closeness. Instead he kissed her cheek gently, much like many other people had that day, and left her in peace.

After the funeral, Hermione spent the afternoon in her otter form. It may have been her way of avoiding discussion. Her friends didn't argue or push the issue at all. Blaise had leaned close to kiss Athena's furry head before tranforming into a wolf and tackling Ron.

"Romulus!" Ron cried, struggling to push the wolf off. "Get off me you great slobbering git."

Romulus cocked his head to one side, as if confused. Then, he licked Ron from chin to hairline in one long wet lick. Harry burst out laughing while Ron scrubbed his face in disgust. Romulus huffed and then leaned in to lick gently at Ron's neck.

"Oi! Do not make this sexual when you're in animal form," Ron snapped, his face flushing as he realized that he was on his back with his Animagus boyfriend looming above him. Romulus whined while Ron scuttled out from under the wolf's form. "No," Ron reiterated firmly. "Dirty git."

Romulus looked quite close to pouting. Ron sighed and transformed. The next instant, Zeus was barking happily while Romulus chased him.

"My poor house," Harry groaned as he heard the sound of glass breaking.

"Easily repaired," Ginny said dismissively. "And they're entertaining Athena."

The otter was pressed against Draco's chest and peering over his shoulder at Zeus and Romulus. Zeus was now gnawing on the wolf's tail while Romulus sprawled on his back and howled theatrically.

"Harry, did you get a rabbit?" Seamus asked abruptly.

"What?" Harry asked incredulously. "What are you on about?"

"The damn rabbit," Seamus retorted, waving his hand impatiently.

There was a white rabbit sitting on the floor, watching the two canines flail about. Harry stared at it in bewilderment. He looked around at his friends and then grinned. "Luna?" he questioned the rabbit.

A moment later the rabbit turned into Luna. "Yes Harry?" she responded politely.

"Sweet Salazar!" Pansy exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell us that you'd become an Animagus?"

"You didn't ask me," Luna replied calmly.

"I didn't... How was I supposed to know that I needed to ask?" Pansy snapped in frustration.

"I don't know," Luna answered, looking politely pensive.

"Of all the..." Pansy grumbled irritably. "Are you an animagus?" she asked Ginny in a demanding tone. Ginny giggled and shook her head. "Seamus? Dean?" Both men shook their heads. "What about you Neville? Do you turn into a giraffe in the privacy of your home?"

Neville snorted is amusement. "No, but I'll inform you the moment I do," he assured her.

Pansy smiled reluctantly, her irritation fading. "Perhaps the rest of you should become animagi," she suggested with a shrug.

"Could be fun," Seamus noted. "My patronus is a fox so maybe that's what I would become. Doubt I'd be as pretty as Apollo though," he added, smirking at Draco.

"My patronus is a horse," Ginny muttered. "I don't think I want to become one."

"If you don't like your form, just don't ever used it again," Pansy suggested. "You could just sort of supervise our... herd."

Neville chuckled. "Weirdest herd ever."

Athena made a quiet chattering sound; the first noise she'd made since the funeral. Draco looked down at her with a smile, his fingers stroking her back gently. " Sound nice to you?" he asked her. She squeaked at him. Draco looked around at the others. "Athena said that she'd quite like to have a family of possibly mentally unstable animals." He laughed when Athena nibbled his thumb in mild chastisement.

When it came time for Draco to return to France, he was quick to assure Hermione that he'd return soon. He didn't want to leave her. She'd allowed him to cuddle her and hold her hand. She seemed so pleased to have him back in her life. And yet, there was something so hesitant about her that made Draco resist the temptation to snog her senseless.

He knew right away that he hadn't stopped loving Hermione. He ached with it. The thought of her in a relationship with another man was so painful. When he'd heard that she had been dating, he'd tried to move on. But, he couldn't stop himself from wishing that each potential date was her. Attempting intimacy had made him rather uncomfortable and after a year and a half, he'd given up.

Callum had visited a few times during Draco's stay, but he'd kept a respectable distance. He behaved in a perfectly friendly manner and Draco found that his only objection to the man was the fact that he had been dating Hermione.

Hermione offered a final wave as Draco stepped into the floo to get to the ministry for his International portkey. In just a few weeks, Draco would return for good. It was a relief, but it also made her stomach flutter with nervousness.

Callum moved to stand next to her with a hesitant smile. "I'm glad you were able to spend a few days with Draco," he told her, smiling at her mildly suspicious expression. "He was good for you. He made you smile and relax a bit."

"Thank you," Hermione murmured, blushing slightly.

Callum was silent for a moment. He looked dowm at her seriously. "I can understand how you feel about him," he said carefully. "I'm not giving up yet, but I can respect that relationship while trying to win you over."

Hermione rolled her eyes but she smiled. She left the room to go make tea, aware of his eyes on her.

Harry entered the room from another doorway, feeling awkward from overhearing the conversation. He smiled when Callum spotted him. "That's incredibly understanding of you," Harry commented. "Most blokes wouldn't react that way."

"Pansy was right," Callum said with a careless shrug. "Hermione's made no commitment to me and I won't stand between her and someone that she obviously needs right now. I hate to admit it, but Draco seems like a decent bloke when he's not glaring at anyone."

Harry chuckled at that. "He can be a bit prickly," Harry agreed. "But he's got a good heart under all his snark and he adores Hermione."

"And Hermione?" Callum asked anxiously.

"Is hurting," Harry responded firmly, giving Callum a hard look. "Be her friend, and if she wants more she'll let you know. I can tell that's she's fond of you, but don't press your luck by being pushy right now."

Callum nodded, feeling suitably chastised but grateful to Harry all the same.

Hermione went out with Callum a few times over the next three weeks. He had become a good friend and she was attracted to him. But her thoughts strayed to Draco constantly. She wanted to have deeper feelings for Callum. He was wonderful.

But he wasn't Draco.

Hermione scoffed at herself as she set about preparing dinner. There was no sense in worrying over it right then. Everyone was coming over to celebrate the conclusion of a very difficult case. Harry and Ron's hard work had paid off, so Hermione had shooed Harry away from the kitchen with firm assurances that she was capable of making dinner. Hermione wasn't much of a cook, but she could manage spaghetti.

As she chopped onions, she looked up at the sound of the floo in the next room. When she heard Harry happily call out Draco's name, she froze. Draco walked into the kitchen a moment later, looking as handsome as ever.

He pulled Hermione into a hug, delighting in the brilliant smile she gave him. "I'm so glad to be back," he told her.

"You didn't tell us you'd be back today," she said, swatting his arm playfully.

"It was a surprise," he responded with a smile. "You are looking at a fully qualified Potions Master."

"So quickly," Hermione gasped, obviously impressed.

"It didn't feel quick," Draco assured her ruefully. "I was rather advanced to begin with, thanks to Snape." He looked around her at the ingredients on the counter top. "Harry said that you're cooking tonight."

"Don't sound so shocked," Hermione laughed. "I can't do much, but I can handle spaghetti."

"Why don't I help you?" he suggested. "I can help you make a better sauce."

Hermione agreed and grinned when Draco immediately began adding ingredients to the collection on the counter top.

For several minutes they prepared ingredients in comfortable silence. Draco glanced over as she began slicing the peppers and then stepped up behind her. He slid his hands down her arms and then proceeded to guide her through slicing the peppers the way that he preferred. He grinned in satisfaction at the hitch in her breathing.

Hermione added the peppers, onions and mushrooms to the tomato sauce while Draco slathered garlic butter onto thick slices of fresh bread. Draco gently placed his hands on Hermione's hips and shifted her aside so the tray of bread could be placed in the oven. Once done, he watched Hermione stir the sauce for a moment.

"Here," he mumured, stepping up behind her again. His hands slid down her arms again. He laced the fingers of their left hands together where she had rested her hand on the counter. His other hand redirected her spoon to stir the sauce more thoroughly. "We wouldn't want it to burn at the bottom," he said quietly, his breath caressing her ear and making her shiver.

Hermione felt quite light headed. Draco lightly pressed against her from behind. She could feel his firm chest against her shoulder blades but he was careful to avoid pressing his pelvis against her backside. His fingers were entwined with hers. Once she had altered her stirring to suit him, he'd dropped his right hand to her hip, his thumb slipping up her shirt to stroke her skin softly. The whole thing was surprisingly erotic.

Draco's heart thudded in his chest and arousal flooded his body. He forced his body to remain still against hers. As badly as he wanted to press his erection against her, he didn't think it would be a good idea. He didn't want to destroy his chances with her by forcing his libido on her like heathen. However, he couldn't seem to stop himself from sliding his hand slowly from her hip to gently caress her stomach before shifting back to her hip. He bit his lip as she dropped the spoon against the side of her sauce pan and gasped. She instantly grasped the spoon again and resumed stirring, turning her head to meet Draco's heated gaze.

The sound of a throat clearing made Hermione jump. She looked around to see Harry, Ginny and Callum in the doorway. Her stomach squirmed with guilt at the flicker of hurt on Callum's face. Draco's hand tightened on her waist just slightly before he released her. To her surprise, Draco walked right up to Callum and shook his hand.

"Good to see you again," Callum said, though his tone suggested that he hadn't fully decided if that statement was true or not. "You just get in?"

"I did," Draco confirmed.

They were all silent for a moment, the awkward tension making Hermione want to transform and float in the bathtub as an otter for the remainder of the night.

"Anything I can help with?" Callum offered.

Draco have him an appraising look and then nodded. "We still need to make the salad," Draco said.

"I can do that," Callum responded.

Harry and Ginny glanced between Draco and Callum and then at Hermione. Once it seemed that there would be no hexing or tears in the kitchen, they relaxed. Harry retrieved a few bottles of wine that he knew would meet with Draco's approval while Ginny leaned against the counter and questioned Draco about France.

The rest of the former Sentinels arrived as dinner was being set on the table. Dinner conversation was pleasant and light. Draco was eager to hear about the Aurors while Ron and Seamus were eager to tell wild and ridiculously exaggerated tales.

"It's not all running after dark wizards," Harry said with a laugh. "There's the paperwork and the continued training. We really have to stay in shape. Blaise actually helps us with that now."

Draco set his fork down and reached for his wine glass. "How's that?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow in question.

"Well, I understand the human body since I'm healer," Blaise said airily. "So, I've devised a workouts that help to build muscle and stamina. It works wonders. Though, I had to alter it a bit for Hermione. She didn't care to build large rippling muscles. Instead of doing all of the weight-lifting that I assign for the men, Hermione and I go dancing or skating."

"As in ice skating?" Draco asked, sounding surprised.

"Of course," Blaise replied with a smirk.

"You've got to see it Draco," Callum blurted out. "It's amazing to watch."

"I'd love to see it," Draco responded, biting his lip on a grin when Hermione blushed.

Either Blaise was oblivious to Hermione embarrassment, or he was taking delight in causing it. "We haven't been on the ice in a few weeks," Blaise said carelessly. "We should go tomorrow. We found a muggle rink that is not usually very busy," he explained to Draco. He looked over at Hermione. "Is tomorrow alright for you?" he asked.

Hermione sighed but nodded dutifully. Blaise gave her an approving nod. "The exercise will be good for you," he assured her. "It'll boost your spirits and you'll look sexy, which makes everybody feel good."

Hermione nearly choked on her wine. "What?" she squeaked anxiously. "What do you mean by that?"

Blaise heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Looking sexy makes you feel good about yourself. And it makes everyone else feel good when they look at you," he said, giving her an impatient look. "You're meant to be incredibly clever," he reminded her.

"I am clever you insufferable troll," Hermione snapped, making her friends chortle. "I wanted to know why I'll look sexy?"

Blaise smirked. "Maybe you were born that way?" he suggested.

"I'll hex your manly bits if you keep this up," Hermione retorted flatly.

"Oh," Blaise responded with a wicked grin. "Naughty little minx," he said, wrinkling his nose at her. "I just thought it would be fun to dress you for the occasion. Dress the part for your little exhibition," he said with a smile.

Hermione grimaced. "Let's not call it an exhibition," she said. "And if you come at me with clothing made of lycra and feathers, I will castrate you."

"Poor Ron," Pansy said with a smirk.

"This conversation is horrifying," Harry commented with a shudder. Ginny and Luna giggled.

The next morning, Draco found himself standing next to Callum are the edge of the ice rink. Their friends were on the ice, skating with varying levels of skill. A low wall that rose to waist level on Draco lined the perimeter. Draco pressed his palms to the top of the barrier and leaned against to lightly.

The two men didn't speak until Dean scrambled off the ice and yanked off his skates. "Here we go," Callum said expectantly as Dean disappeared though a door to what was probably an office.

Draco frowned but simply waited to see what would happen. When music started to play, everyone aside from Hermione and Blaise moved to the perimeter of the ice, resting against the barrier.

It took a bit of coaxing, but Blaise drew Hermione into a fluid but still energetic ice dance. They circled one another easily, their movements carefully coordinated to avoid collisions. Hermione was wearing a loose gray tunic top that draped down to mid thigh. She wore simple black leggings underneath Her hair was pulled back in a thick ponytail to keep it out of her face.

Blaise abruptly skated away from Hermione and Callum tensed, leaning forward slightly. "Watch this," he told Draco eagerly.

Hermione rotated her body to skate backwards and bent her right knee while she extended her left leg behind her. Her left leg came down and she launched herself into the air, spinning. She landed on her right foot, her left leg rotating out and keeping her balance.

Draco gasped while the others cheered exhuberantly. "Sweet Salazar," he murmured with wide eyes as Hermione was joined by Blaise again.

"I think that was a triple toe-loop," Callum said frowning thoughtfully. "Blaise and Hermione explained the spins and jumps to me, but I'm still learning to recognize them."

"I had no idea she could do this," Draco commented. He winced when she stumbled after the next jump and fell down.

"She learned when she was younger," Callum explained. "When Blaise found out she could do a few tricks, he made this part of her workout routine."

Draco bit down on a sudden surge of jealousy. While he'd been away, another man had been learning about her and involving himself in her life. Draco knew it was his own fault, but that didn't help him to feel less bitter about it. He didn't want to learn things about Hermione from Callum.

"Look Draco," Callum said suddenly, startling the blond out of his thoughts. "I know that Hermione means a lot to you. I don't want there to be... awkwardness."

Draco sighed, his eyes never leaving Hermione. "It's my fault," he admitted, his voice barely audible over the music. "I was gone for two years. It was necessary for me, but I just couldn't ask her to wait for me."

Callum nodded pensively and then smiled. "It's lucky for you that she's absolute shite at moving on then," he commented lightly, watching Blaise and Hermione perform spins in tandem.

Draco turned to stare at Callum suspiciously, but Callum only shrugged, a knowing smile on his lips.

As everyone was preparing to leave the rink, Callum pulled Hermione to one side. "Is everything alright?" Hermione asked.

"Of course," Callum said gently. "I just wanted to let you know that I'm stepping aside."

Hermione frowned. "Did I..."

"You did nothing wrong," Callum interrupted with a reassuring smile. "I'm just giving you the chance to heal your relationship with Draco. I really don't think he's going anywhere this time," he added, glancing around to see the blond chatting comfortably with Harry and Blaise. "As for me," he continued, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze, "I'll be satisfied to be your friend."

Hermione threw her arms around Callum's neck and hugged him tightly. She felt a bit guilty that she wasn't upset about Callum's decision. It wasn't a break-up exactly, since they had never officially been a couple but she had thought that she'd feel the sting of rejection. Instead, she was grateful and relieved. Perhaps she'd always known that it wouldn't work.

Hermione wasn't completely certain of how she felt about Draco. She knew she wanted to be with him. But, it seemed that the pain caused by his departure had been a bit traumatizing. Rationally, she knew he had no plans to leave again. But, the pain she'd felt when he left was still so clear in her mind. She was also aware of the fact that Lucius Malfoy wouldn't be supportive of their relationship. Lucius had been released from Azkaban the year before, and was now a very real obstacle.

Callum pulled back and chuckled. "You're thinking too hard," he chided. "Just find away to let yourself be happy." He looked over her shoulder and saw Draco approaching with a wary expression. "Draco, it was great talking with you mate. I've got to be off though."

"Will you be around later?" Draco asked.

"Maybe," Callum replied. "We've all got work. Definitely this weekend though. You meeting with the Head Auror tomorrow?" he asked Draco.

"I am," Draco nodded. "I'm hoping to complete my training and join the aurors in just a few months."

"Brilliant," Callum said with a big smile. "Good luck and let me know how the meeting with Robards goes." He gave a little wave and then left.

Draco watched him go before turning back to Hermione. She looked back at him apprehensively. Draco sighed quietly and reached out to stroke her cheek with one finger. "I don't mind working for it," he said quietly. "You're more than worth it." Her answering smile warmed his heart.

All kinds of stuff coming up in the next chapter. Thanks for sticking with me guys.